Auto-Sorting Principles

The heart is a 'hopper filter unit': in the top hopper's 5 slots, fill the first 4 with one filter item each (e.g. 1 cobblestone per slot) and leave slot 5 empty. With exactly 4 items the redstone signal strength is exactly 1, so the comparator below is 'locked' to pass only items matching the filter — everything else flows on to the next unit. Chain dozens of units side by side and every item dropped on the belt auto-sorts. The two cross-sections below show the full routing and the win/lose contrast of '4 full vs 5th empty'.

Hopper filter auto-sorter Hopper Auto-Sorter: How It Works Items ride the top bus; each unit only grabs the item it is filtered for A · Cross-section (2 units shown) → next units Input hopper bus (items flow through) FILTER Cobblestone Comparator reads the hopper torch + lock FILTER Coal B · The filter hopper's 5 slots — the #1 thing people get wrong ✓ Correct: 1 filter item in 4 slots, slot 5 empty 1 1 1 1 empty Comparator reads a stable low signal → the unit stays locked until a matching item arrives. ✗ Wrong: stacks of filter items 64 64 64 64 64 Signal overflows → the lock never releases → the whole sorting chain jams.
Every sorter unit is the same three blocks — bus hopper, filter hopper, chest — plus a comparator and torch that lock it. Chain as many units as you have item types; only the slot configuration in panel B changes.
Warning: Slot 5 MUST stay empty! A second item of the same type pushes signal strength to 2, the comparator's condition changes, and the whole chain mis-sorts. This is the root cause of 90% of broken sorters.
Warning: Don't use a filter item that's easy to confuse; fix one 'marker' per unit and label the top chest with an item frame so you don't forget which slot is which later.

10 Design Quick List

From 'usable on day one' to 'redstone warehouse'. The table compares capacity, best stage and standout feature:

DesignCapacity / TypesStageFeature
#1 Wall cabinet10 chestsDay oneItem frames, find at a glance
#2 Recessed cabinets12–16 chestsEarlyChests in wall, tidy & compact
#3 Cellar storage20+ chestsAfter pickaxeUnderground tiers, creeper-safe
#4 Circular towerOne type/floorMidVertical tiers, great looking
#5 Auto-sorter~20 typesAfter redstoneHopper filter, drop-to-sort
#6 Large sorter50+ typesRedstone proParallel columns, warehouse scale
#7 Ender chest hubCross-dim infiniteAny stageCentral ender chest, access anywhere
#8 Museum displayDisplay-firstDecorativeItem frames + armor stands
#9 Underwater vault10+ chestsAfter glassWaterproof glass dome, unique view
#10 Shulker loaderBulk整理Nether tripsFast shulker box loading
Related guides： Redstone Basics (pistons, dust & levers) · Farm Layout Guide
✓ Last verified on Minecraft 1.22 (2026-09-22) Minecraft mechanics change with every update — this guide is only guaranteed to work in the stated version.